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Remote Utility Forestry Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Wri

Senior Water Data Scientist

Washington, DC · On-site +1

... remote sensing and Earth observation * geospatial analytics and environmental monitoring ... Engage with technical experts, research institutions, NGOs, governments, utilities, companies, and ...

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Remote Utility Forestry information

What is a remote utility forestry?

A Remote Utility Forestry job involves managing and maintaining vegetation near utility lines, such as power lines, often using remote sensing technology or working from remote locations. These professionals assess tree growth, identify hazards, and make recommendations or take action to prevent vegetation from interfering with utility infrastructure. The work may include using GIS mapping, drones, and other digital tools to monitor large or hard-to-reach areas. Remote Utility Foresters play a crucial role in preventing outages, wildfires, and ensuring public safety. This position often allows for flexible, remote work, with field visits as needed.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a remote utility forestry professional?

To thrive as a Remote Utility Forestry professional, you need a solid background in forestry, arboriculture, or environmental science, often supported by relevant certifications such as ISA Arborist or Utility Specialist. Familiarity with GIS mapping software, remote sensing tools, and vegetation management systems is typically required. Strong communication, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills help professionals coordinate with utility companies and ensure regulatory compliance. These skills are critical for maintaining utility safety, preventing outages, and supporting sustainable vegetation management in remote areas.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in remote utility forestry roles, and how can they be addressed?

Remote utility forestry professionals often encounter challenges such as working in isolated locations, ensuring effective communication with utility companies and field teams, and adapting to changing environmental conditions. Managing vegetation around utility lines requires strong problem-solving skills and adherence to strict safety protocols. To address these challenges, many teams utilize advanced mapping technology, regular virtual meetings, and ongoing training to stay updated on safety standards and environmental regulations, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.

What is the difference between Remote Utility Forestry vs Remote Utility Vegetation Management?

AspectRemote Utility ForestryRemote Utility Vegetation Management
CertificationsForestry certifications, GIS, safety trainingVegetation management certifications, pesticide licenses, GIS
Work EnvironmentForestry sites, remote areas, fieldworkPower lines, utility corridors, remote and urban areas
Industry UsageForest management, conservation, utility line clearancePower line clearance, vegetation control, utility maintenance

Remote Utility Forestry focuses on forest management, conservation, and working in forested areas, often involving tree planting and forest health assessments. Remote Utility Vegetation Management centers on maintaining utility lines by controlling vegetation growth near power lines, often involving pesticide use and clearance activities. While both roles require similar certifications and involve remote work, their primary focus and work environments differ, catering to distinct aspects of utility and environmental management.

What are the most commonly searched types of Utility Forestry jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Utility Forestry jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Remote Utility Forestry jobs in Washington?

For Remote Utility Forestry jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Remote Utility Forestry jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote Utility Forestry jobs in Washington are:

Remote Utility Forestry jobs near you

Senior Water Data Scientist

Wri

Washington, DC • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month intheoffice. You can be based in our office in our office in Washington, DC or Mexico City, Mexico. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.To be eligible for this positionin US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

The Senior Water Data Scientist will serve as the technical and scientific lead for a flagship initiative focused on advancing how the impacts of nature-based solutions (NBS) and green-gray infrastructure (GGI) on water security outcomes are measured and monitored across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and beyond. This role will help shape a next-generation approach to understanding causal inference and attribution for how NBS influence water availability, water quality, hydrologic regulation, drought resilience, flood risk, and watershed resilience, by convening partners to build the scientific methodologies and digital architecture that will make monitoring and measuring the water outcomes of NBS credible and accessible at scale.

The Senior Water Data Scientist will work with an interdisciplinary team across WRI's Cities4Forests, Water Program, Global Nature Watch, Data Lab, and regional offices to identify, evaluate, and apply the best available science, data, models, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and other emerging technologies for impact measurement and monitoring (IMM). The role will help bridge cutting-edge scientific research with practical implementation needs for utilities, investors, governments, and practitioners.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in one or more of the following areas:

  • planetary causal inference -> integrating planetary-scale data and localized information to derive insights about causality
  • AI, machine learning and data-driven environmental modeling -> Orchestrating research and scientific development with AI, such as expertise with geospatial foundation models (GFMs), experience with AI-assisted coding, and firm foundation in statistical and machine learning methods
  • remote sensing and Earth observation
  • geospatial analytics and environmental monitoring
  • environmental data systems and impact measurement frameworks
  • hydrology and watershed science
  • forest-water dynamics and ecosystem processes
  • integrated water resources management

The role requires a strong ability to synthesize emerging science and technology into actionable methodologies, frameworks, and recommendations that support investment-ready, scientifically credible approaches to monitoring water outcomes from NBS and GGI.

Scientific Leadership (50%)

  • Lead the technical development of research and analytical approaches related to measuring and monitoring the impacts of NBS and GGI on water security outcomes in LAC.
  • Lead and contribute to landscape syntheses, technical assessments, and methodological reviews related to hydrology, watershed monitoring, Earth observation, remote sensing, AI-enabled analytics, and environmental data systems.
  • Identify scientific, methodological, and data gaps that constrain credible measurement of water outcomes from NBS and GGI and help define pathways for future innovation and system-scale monitoring breakthroughs.
  • Evaluate the strengths, limitations, feasibility, and investment relevance of existing and emerging monitoring approaches, indicators, and data products.
  • Develop scientifically rigorous and policy-relevant recommendations for impact measurement and monitoring frameworks, indicators, methodologies, and monitoring strategies.
  • Possibility to manage other technical experts to deliver the project.

AI-Enabled Methods & Monitoring (20%)

  • Manage, analyze, and synthesize large and complex environmental datasets, including hydrologic, geospatial, remote sensing, climate, and ecological datasets.
  • Contribute technical expertise to the development of pilot monitoring approaches and applied field implementations with regional partners.
  • Support development and evaluation of advanced analytical approaches, including geospatial modeling, machine learning, AI-enabled workflows, and satellite-based monitoring systems where relevant.
  • Author and co-author high-quality knowledge products including reports, technical papers, synthesis documents, presentations, blogs, and peer-reviewed publications.
  • Help shape a long-term "technical vision" related to scalable water monitoring systems, foundational environmental datasets, and future "water cycle intelligence" approaches.

Project Development and Project Management (15%)

  • Co-lead the development and implementation of a multi-year initiative advancing water security impact measurement and monitoring for nature-based solutions and green-gray infrastructure.
  • Coordinate interdisciplinary collaboration across WRI teams and external partners, including research institutions, utilities, NGOs, technical advisors, and implementation partners.
  • Manage technical workstreams, project deliverables, timelines, peer review processes, and partner relationships to ensure high-quality project execution.
  • Co-lead the design and implementation of pilot projects and demonstration activities to test, validate, and refine monitoring approaches under real-world conditions.
  • Contribute to fundraising, proposal development, strategic partnerships, and donor engagement to expand WRI's water security and environmental data portfolio.

Stakeholder Engagement (15%)

  • Engage with technical experts, research institutions, NGOs, governments, utilities, companies, and other stakeholders (including those in Latin America and the Caribbean) to support knowledge exchange, collaboration, and applied learning.
  • Coordinate and contribute technical expertise to technical advisory group, including leading discussions, workshops, webinars, and external convenings.
  • Prepare presentations, briefings, and technical materials for internal and external audiences, including funders and senior decision-makers.
  • Help communicate complex scientific and technical concepts to non-technical audiences in clear, actionable, and decision-relevant ways.
  • Support coordination of project reporting, partner communications, and funder deliverables.

What will you need:

  • Education: A BA or BS degree (Graduate Degree preferred) in a relevant field: environmental science (such as hydrology, ecology, or water resource management), geographic science (such as remote sensing and satellite technology), or data science and programming (such as computer science, machine learning or artificial intelligence), or a related field required. Master's Degree or PhD strongly preferred.
  • Experience: A minimum of 10 years of full-time work experience in environmental or climate science or a related field with rigorous quantitative and/or scientific components and a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of interdisciplinary and multicultural teams. Experience working with Artificial Intelligence and data science is important. You have a proven ability to synthesize data analysis and research into policy-relevant written products.
  • Languages:Written and verbal proficiency in English, additional proficiency in Spanish is strongly preferred.
  • Requirements:Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

Potential Salary:

If based in the US: $139-175K

If located in another country office, salary will be determined by local market conditions.

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter bySeptember 11, 2026. Internal applicants should submit their application through the Jobs Hub portal in Workday. External applicants mustapply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.

What we offer:

  • Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, LatinAmericaand theUS

  • The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission drivenorganizationwith access to varied learning and training opportunities

  • A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of ourwork

  • The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future ofWRI

  • Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible workinghours

  • Generous leavedays that increase with tenure.

  • If based in the US:Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, Vision Coverage, retirement plan access and employer contribution.

About Us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage ourdata, expertise and global reach to influence policy andcatalysechangeacrosssystems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

Our mission and values:

WRI's mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our People team carefully reviews all applications.

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